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Harl Fenwick waits beside the slick stone causeway, staring toward a half-sunken tower half-hidden by mist. He points to a faint glow leaking from the ruin and says, “That vault’s awake again. If it keeps bleeding magic into the marsh, something worse will answer it.”

Details

Harl Fenwick, a wary marsh runner, explains the route to the flooded entrance and confirms the tower vault is the source of the strange glow. He is open to interaction and can answer simple questions about the safest approach, the waterline, and the entrance that still stands above the muck. The party’s objective is clear: reach the vault before the leak spreads farther. No roll is required to begin; Harl’s warning and the visible causeway lead directly to the dungeon entrance. Treasure placement: The NPC provides 10 Gold Pieces, Ironblood Tonic to help the party with the adventure.

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The west gallery stretches along the tower wall, its warped mirrors catching broken reflections of the central shaft. Two Darkmantles cling in the high stonework, their leathery wings folded tight as they wait above the narrow span.

Details

Attached monsters (use these exact stat blocks): - Quantity: 2; Monster: Darkmantle. Why here: They cling to the gallery ceiling where the broken stone gives them height and darkness. Activity: They are waiting above the narrow span, listening for movement and ready to drop on intruders. Attitude: defensive of their perch Encounter start: distracted/noisy monster Response trigger: They attack if the party crosses the bridge, disturbs the roost, or shines bright light upward. Aftermath: Their lair contains shed scales, bat guano, and a clear view of the central shaft. Room guidance: Two Darkmantles roost here because the gallery gives them height, cover, and easy access to prey crossing the shaft. They are defensive of their perch and begin distracted by the chamber’s echoes, so the party notices them automatically; a Stealth approach can gain the first action, but failure means the Darkmantles notice and act normally. They attack if the party crosses the bridge, disturbs their roost, or shines bright light up into their hiding place. After the encounter, searching the gallery reveals cracked warning sigils pointing toward the cistern and workshop; the mirrors also show the safe edge of the narrow bridge. A Spot check can reveal the best handhold on the bridge for a +2 bonus to the next Athletics crossing in this room. Treasure placement: Searching this area reveals 21 Gold Pieces, Potion of Minor Healing.

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Below the tower, a round cistern chamber holds black water that barely ripples against the walls. A broken pump wheel leans over the pool, and something pale shifts beneath the surface near the wall carvings.

Details

Attached monsters (use these exact stat blocks): - Quantity: 1; Monster: Gray Ooze. Why here: It feeds on the damp stone, old rust, and metal scraps collected in the flooded cistern. Activity: It lies in the black water and slides along the floor, waiting for something to touch it. Attitude: hungry Encounter start: alert monster at a distance Response trigger: It attacks when a character wades close, strikes the water, or exposes the ooze with the pump wheel. Aftermath: Its dissolved scrap leaves behind corroded coins and the hidden service passage route. Room guidance: A Gray Ooze lurks in the cistern because the flooded chamber gives it moisture, stone, and scraps of corroded metal to feed on. It is hungry and mostly hidden in the water, so the party notices the chamber first and sees the ooze only when it moves; if they try to wade through carelessly, it can strike from concealment. The ooze is not intelligent, but it reacts aggressively to metal, weapons, and splashing. The broken pump wheel and carved wall markings show a hidden service passage along the eastern wall; the route is always available even if the ooze is not defeated. After the encounter, searching the chamber reveals the service passage latch and a rusted token stamped with the tower’s sigil.

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The rune workshop still hums with a low, uneasy pulse. Broken benches ring a stone device set into the floor, and two Magma Mephits bob above the cracked runes, hissing sparks and heat into the room.

Details

Attached monsters (use these exact stat blocks): - Quantity: 2; Monster: Magma Mephit. Why here: They are drawn to the workshop’s leaking heat and unstable magical exhaust. Activity: They hover over the cracked runes, spitting sparks and playing in the warm venting magic. Attitude: distracted and aggressive if disturbed Encounter start: distracted/noisy monster Response trigger: They lash out if the party touches the device, tries to force the mechanism, or drives them away from the heat. Aftermath: Their soot and slag leave the control crystal and the seal diagram easy to find. Room guidance: Two Magma Mephits are here because the workshop’s unstable device vents heat and sparks that they instinctively gather around. They are distracted by the malfunctioning runes, mischievous rather than disciplined, and they begin openly visible among the broken tools. They may bargain, boast, or be driven off, but they become aggressive if the party touches the device without calming the room first. The device can be reset safely with careful magical handling, and the workshop’s control panel gives the clue needed to unlock the inner vault door. After the mephits are dealt with or avoided, the room reveals a diagram of the final seal and a stable control crystal.

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Beyond the restored door, the inner vault opens around a raised plinth washed in pale magic. Three Goblins crouch among the plinth steps and broken crates, clutching scavenged tools as they guard the prize at the center of the room.

Details

Attached monsters (use these exact stat blocks): - Quantity: 3; Monster: Goblin. Why here: They sneaked into the unlocked inner vault to steal anything valuable from the plinth. Activity: They are crouched among the steps and crates, grabbing loot and guarding the center of the room. Attitude: immediately hostile Encounter start: mutual awareness at close range Response trigger: They attack if the party approaches the plinth or tries to take the treasure. Aftermath: Their dropped gear and stolen scraps point to the vault’s hidden record niche. Room guidance: Three Goblins are here because they slipped into the newly opened vault and are trying to claim the plinth’s treasure before anyone else can take it. They begin in full view and are immediately hostile if the party advances on the plinth; they may bargain briefly if cornered, but their first instinct is to defend the prize and flee with anything they can carry. The restored workshop device has already removed the simple ward, so the vault is open once the party reaches this room. After the encounter, the plinth holds the room’s treasure and a clear sign of the vault’s magical purpose; searching the chamber reveals scattered goblin loot and the tower’s sealed record niche. Treasure placement: After the encounter, the party can recover 54 Gold Pieces, Nightglass Dagger +1 from the guarded area or the creatures' belongings.

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The inner vault settles into silence as the last sparks fade from the plinth. In the still air, old carvings and a shallow record niche stand out clearly against the stone.

Details

This closing scene reveals the vault’s surviving clue: the record niche contains the story of what the tower once protected and why the leak mattered. The chamber is calm, with no monsters present, so the party can search freely and take stock of the treasure, carvings, and any practical supplies left behind. The clue should point onward in the campaign without adding a new faction or complication. If the party wants to linger, they can examine the plinth, the seal marks, and the old tower script to learn more about the wizard’s trail. Treasure placement: Searching this area reveals 65 Gold Pieces.